Rochester Woodcarvers
January - February 2005 Newsletter
Meetings: 9am - 11am on the 3rd Saturday of each month (Sept - April)
Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9th Street and 7th Avenue SE, Rochester, MN

ROCHESTER WOODCARVERS ANNUAL SHOW

APRIL 9 & 10, 2005

ROCHESTER FAIRGROUNDS
4-H BUILDING

2004 – 2005 Meeting Dates and Program Topics:

• September 18 - Acanthus Carving by Keith Anderson
• October 16 - Fan Carved Birds and How to Handle the Knife by Jim Ayers
• November 20 - Harley Refsal - will speak on the history of the Swedish Dala Horse & will also bring some of his examples of the various 100 dala type horses he sent out to various people across the country & other countries to decorate & they were to return them to him when they had done so. He will also bring copies of his new revised carving book that just came out this month & also his flat plane video that came out this year.
• December 18 - Christmas Party
• January 22 - Customs and Carvings for a German Christmas by Tom Pike
• February 19 – Knife Making with Terry Knipschield
• March 19 – Intarsia with Ivan Amman
• April 9 & 10 – 2005 Rochester Woodcarvers Show
• April 16 - Auction and Interest Stations
• May 21 - Spring Picnic - Quarry Hill Park, 9th St and 19th Ave NE (Ninth Street NE entrance), 11:00am to 1:00pm, Potluck lunch at noon

Reports

Treasury Report – Bev Stupca
$1100 in checking
Expenses for show coming up

Librarian Report – David Ridge
Harvey Refsal - Book and Video
New Magazines

Education
New Community Ed Classes start this week
Carve In   @ Kellogg on Tuesday nites 7-9
Seniors: $17.50
Non-Seniors: $35.00

Show and Tell – January 22, 2005

Bob Nowicki: Star Catcher w/ Lantern – 5^th Santa in new series
Naomi Goddess: Philippines Carved Box (Magic Box which multiplies anything you put into it)
Randy Kinnick: Bread Board (Yellow Poplar)

INTERESTING WEB SITES

Chinese Carved Nativity & Ark: http://www.woodstories.com/index.shtmlChinese Carved Watermelons: http://www.americade.info/melons.htm

Program, January 22, 2005 German Carving History with Tom Pike

A short history of the development of various types and subject of wood carving in Germany was divided into two regions of Germany.  The Protestant region of northeast primarily along the Erz mountain region (Erzgebirge), which developed the folk art carving of toys, and Christmas decorations.  Origins of the Nutcracker, Light Angel, Smoker, Parade Bergmann, and Kurrende Singers were discussed.  A comparison between the manufacture by hand carving as a cottage industry and by later higher volume production with lathe turning was presented along with how this German folk art was associated with Christmas or Weihnachts.  In contrast the master limewood carvers of southern German and Austria carved primarily commission work for church altars and sculptures of church saints.  Works by Riemanschneider, Stoss, and Erhart were discussed.

Newsletter
Next Newsletter after February’s meeting
Tom Pike would like to add in summer classes – please email info to Tom
Hard Copies of Newsletters – let Tom Pike know if you would like to receive a hard copy
Address and Phone list needs to be updated
Everyone should check their information on the address list

Announcements

Bev Stupca – Slim’s Woodshed in Harmony will be having a workshop the first weekend in June (June 5-8)
Contact information:
(507)886-3114
Email: Slim_ws@means.net
Website: www.website.com/slimswoodshed/
Classes include:
Marketry
Watercolor
Buffalo Head
Bark Carving
Chip Carving
Basket
Skinny Cowboy
Bust of Mountain Man
Slim’s Stuff
Wildlife Relief Carving
Carousel Horse
Power Bird

February 19, 2005 Meeting Summary

Reports

Treasury Report – Bev Stupca
Payments 4-H Building, Fairground Sign, Annual Insurance
Balance $1500
Dues due in March

Librarian Report – David Ridge
Library is back in commission  -  Bring your books back

Program, February 19, 2005  Knife Making with Terry Knipschield

Link to his website at our website – http://webpages.charter.net/rochcarve

Making knives for 20 years

2 styles of knives
Steel throughout handle of knife
Steel inserted into part of knife

2 choices of steel
High Carbon Steel – Stronger, More choices for heat treating, Will dull over time
High Carbon Stainless Steel - Will maintain edge over time, Will not rust, More breakable

Steel is Carbon and Iron
01 – High carbon steel
L6 – used for planes and sawblades
1085 & 1087 – the higher the number the more carbon it contains

Grinds
Flat Grind
Hollow Grind (concave) - weaker
Appleseed Edge (convex) – strongest, used for axes

Blade Profiles (side view)
Weakest place is the point
Fatter the blade at the point, the stronger the blade
Shorter knives are stronger, but may not have the extension

Tempering – drawing out strength of steel
Want to bring steel to about 90-95% finished before heat treating
Heat just until metal is non-magnetic
Quench in oil to cool
Wipe off oil
Put in oven for 1hour at 430-440 degrees
Cool to room temperature
Heat again
Finish sharpening with diamond file

“01” is a for-giving steel – Terry likes using “01”
Can temper over and over
Other steels can be heat treated only once.

Power Stropping
It is possible to burn steel which can decrease the hardness of the blade.

Banite –  Named after Edward Bane (~1910-1920)
Howard Clark uses “L6” to make Banite Japanese Swords
Quenches in molten salt for 5-8 hours
Do not need to temper

How do you know if you have Banite – Exceeds all Expectations

Possible to make Banite out of “01”

Terry is testing some of his Banite carving knives now

Show and Tell – February 19, 2005

Ron Amdahl: Rolling Pin w/ Cedar Cliff Nisse
Laverne Schettl: 2 Nativity Scenes, Friendship Cane with many friends carvings
Bob Nowicki: Seat of Wisdom Stool
Millard Vitse: Cribbage Board w/ drawer – chip carved
Howie Wilson: Loon, Mallard, Swan, Duck
Nancy Borson: Sycamore Trees – Branches for Ione
Trent Bush: 5 New Birds – Pheasant, Kill Deer, Hooded Merganser, Western Tanager, Woodpecker
Bruce Murray: Lady, Woman, Man, Troll
Steve Murray: Palm Tool Box for organizing tools, Santa for Int’l Festival of Trees
Kathy Ward: Lion Shelf, Snowman Couple “Always & Forever Stuck Together”

RWC Show 2005 – 4-H Building at Fairgrounds on April 9-10, 2005

Tables are going fast
Need Volunteers
Blanks  (even 3 would be appreciated) & Raffle Donations needed
Posters and Reminders (Tom Severson did Artwork)
Tell your friends!

Announcements

International Seminar for the Festival of Trees
Steve Murray donated carving for Raffle
Funds earned with raffle will go to Hiawatha

Winnipeg Woodcarvers Show – similar to Waldorf
Located at University of St. John’s

Ione Chase – Celebrating Birthday and Anniversary in March

Rochester Woodcarvers

Elected Officers, Board Members, and Other Volunteers

President                       Trent Busch                             292-9867
Treasurers                     Chuck & Bev Stupca               288-8543
Secretary                       Jennifer Schroeder                  285-0877
Board Members:
Randy Kinnick: 281-8163
Laurie Reed: 775-6613
Nicholas Poleschuk: 289-8327
Wayne Hendrickson: 634-7047

Librarian                         David Ridge                             536-9288
Fair Coordinator             Lyle Bacon                               282-0170
Web Site Designer         Tom Severson                         285-1620
Newsletter Editor           Tom Pike                                 285-1897
                                       tomrpike@aol.com

Note:  A board meeting will be held at 8:15 prior to start of each meeting